Nursing bottle



N. c. LOWE ET AL.

' NURSING BOTTLE Filed April '27 1932 IN VENT 0R5 .A/orman Ckar/es Lowe B y find/w Kenyon Mm: ears TTRNY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 1,976,450 NURSING BOTTLE" Norman Charles Lowe and Andrew Kenyon MacLean, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 27,1932, Serial No. 607,716

' Claims. (o1. 215 -11) Our invention relates to a nursing bottle. More particularly, our invention relates to a nursing bottlehaving an air venting hole therein, and means to close and open said vent hole'when desired, said device being characterized by its sanitary features.

Considerable objection obtains to nursing bottles as presently commonly in use, and as constructed in that soon after the infant draws out a portion of the milk, milk formula or water, the nipple collapses due to thefa'ct that there is no provision made for the introduction of atmospheric pressure to the bottom portion of the bottle, i. e., to the upper surface of the bottle contents during feeding. When the nipple is placed'upon the bottle, ordinarily the same has been previously carefully sterilized, but'if it is collapsed, the ordinary practice is to apply the fingers to the nipple to equalize the pressure and cause it to assume its normal form. This results at once, of course,'in the nipple no longer being sterilized. The removing'of the bottle from the infant to make the correction causes it tocry and brings on an upset condition which is injurious.

Devices heretofore suggested are complicated and are of a character which does not permit of their being readily sterilized, and does not permit the bottle'itself being thoroughly sterilized because there are generally projections and joints that provide lodging places for milk or 'milk formula from which milk or milk formula cannot be thoroughly removed. It will be understood that these formulas often involve acids, such as orange juice, and heavy oils, such as 'cod liver oil, as well as the butter fat-of the'rnillc These compounds render sterilization peculiarly essential for safe-guarding the infants health. Accordingly, these ingredients of the milk formulas render it necessary that the air vent means have particular features which will in nowise interfere with their proper sterilizations; Medical authorities object to any extended tubular parts, and the air venting meansmust be of that'simplicity which will in nowise interfere with complete sterilization. Medical authorities declare that the sucking by an infant upon a collapsed nipple is exceedingly objectionable in that it causes air colic which interferes with the sleep of the babe, and also causes gum callouses and sores, and this in turn contributes to dental difiiculties in the form of crooked teeth. In connection with the feeding of premature infants in hospitals, a special objection obtains to the bottles now commonly employed and in general use,

in r the nipple.

which do not have air venting means, in that milk or milk'formulas do not flow readily. 'By providing a bottle with proper air'venting means, which may be in turn properly sterilized, the a-tmospheric pressure renders the or milk formulas more readily fiowable, and adapts the bottle to use for such infants that have little strength.

In the case of infants of a more advanced age, it is important that the air-closing vent means shall be of a character which will permit the hole means to be so positioned that the air vent will be allowed to continue in open relation to the atmosphere. Furthermore, such air venting must be of a character which will be of economical construction, so that the costs 'thereof will-be reduced to a minimum. i l

At the present time-resort is often madeto the injudicious course of enlarging the holein the nipple by means of a heated needle, or: other in-' strument. f This "practice generally results. in holes being made adjacent to theoriginal hole Then, when thenipple hole is burned, or forced larger, that porti'on of the' nip ple, joining these several added holes to 'the'end of the nipple, readily breaks down and. renders the nipple of a peculiarly short life. In addition to this cause of short life of'the nipple,'there is the further practice of stretching out the rubber to eliminate the collapsedcondition, and this in turn contributes'materially to theshort life of the nipple. Our air venting means results in avoiding these objectionablepractices with respect to the nipple, and extends the life of the nipple a plurality of times that which obtains at '90 present. 1 I

It will be understoodv that the holes inv the ends ofthe nipples vary, and the air venting means embodying our invention renders thisyariableness, as to the hole in the nipple, immaterial, since the admitted atmospheric pressure provides for a sufficient flow of the bottle contents through the nipple.

A further feature which is required of any satisfactory airventing means that it must be I capable of one-hand operation, otherwise the childs position must be disturbed to liberate the arm that is holding the child, to assist'the other hand, in overcoming the collapsed condition of the nipple. A crying baby is in a nervous condition, which is not a suitable or desirous state for feeding. '1

Furthermore, in the case of the infant of such advanced age that it may be left alone with the bottle, it is desirable that the bottlebeseoured to the pillow, blanket, or crib, so that it will not be dislodged, and so the infant can continue feeding. Accordingly, it is necessary that the air venting means be of a character which will permit its being readily releasably secured to the pillow, blanket or crib.

The nursing bottle embodying the air venting means of our invention overcomes all of the ob jections listed above, and the overcoming of such objections constitutes the primary objects of our invention.

The above mentioned general objects of our invention, together with others inherent in the same, areattained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of our invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts: I r 1 I Figure 1 represents a bottle with an air venting member embodying our invention attached thereto. 1

Fig. 2represents a front view of that portion of the bottle in which the hole is located, said hole being preferably located on the rounded corner of the bottle. 7

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the removable resilient clo'sing member embodying our invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bottle, and the removable resilient .closing member applied thereto. Fig.5 is a viewof a modified form of the bottle, and of a modified form of the removable resilient closing member secured thereto. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the removable resilient closing member designed in reduced ,form for employment with the form of thebottle illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 Ba front view of the bottle. shownin Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a side view in section of a further modithe modifiedform' of fied form of a'bottle, and removable resilient closing member embodying'our invention.

: Fig- 9 is an end view in section of the modified formof the invention shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of said modified form shown in Fig. 8. V

i Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of a further modifiedform of the bottle, and removable resilient closing member embodying our invention Fig. 12 is a view in section of the modified form of our invention; shown in Fig. 11.

the hole in the same to provide attachment meansto rele'asably secure the bottle in position on the pillow, blanket or crib.

Fig. 16 is a modified form of the removable resilient closing member havinga fulcrum lug integrally'formed therewith in place of having .lsuch lug formed of glass, and integrally formed won the bottle.

s Fig. 17 isaview of a further modified form of ourinvention. .1 I Fig. 18 is a plan view of said modified form shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a view of still another modified form ofour invention, showing a plug means of holdin .the closing member to the bottle.

-or finger to the lever means 21.

Fig. 20 is a view of the closing member of the modified form shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a view of a further modified form of our invention showing a closing member having a resilient clip frictionally retained in a recess member shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 25 is a view of another modified form of s the closing member shown in Fig. 21.

Figs. 26, 27, and 28 are further modified forms of the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 21.

Figs. 29 and 30 are further modified forms embodying our invention. r

A nursing bottle 31, (Fig. 1) is preferably formed with the bottom portion having a shoulder 32 extending around the bottle. In the shouldered bottom portion of the bottle thus provided, an air vent hole 33 is provided, and this preferably on the corner ofthe bottle. Said hole is preferably very small. Preferably the smaller the better, but it must be large enough to permit thorough cleaning and sterilization. It only requires a very small hole to admit sufficient air, and the smallness of the hole guards against undue leaking if by any chance the closing means is accidentally displaced. An opening of the or der of about & inch will givesatisfactory results. A removable resilient closing means for saidair vent hole 33 is provided in the form of an elastic band 34, preferably formed of rubber material. Integrally formed with this rubber band-is preferablymolded thereon afinger lever means 35 to move said resilient means into positionaway from said hole, to expose said hole in openrelation to. atmospheric pressure, and at the same time to avoid the said elastic closing means'coming in contact with any portionof thebottle which has been subject to handling. Said lever means may consist of a solid piece of rubber vulcanized some- What harder than the rubber material composing the tension of the rubber band will be greatest about said rounded corner of the bottle, and so will best insure the hole being closed when deintegrally formed with the elastic band 34, said extension having a hole 39 through which a safety, pin or other securing means may be. inserted, to anchor the bottle to the pillow or othe objects, such as blankets or cribs. I

The operation of the nursing bottle involving our invention is as follows: After the bottle and removable resilient closing means have been thoroughly sterilized, the closing means may be applied to the bottle in position as shown Figure 1. The bottle may be then filled and the nipple 40 applied. This is the form of the invention which may be used for an infant of a very tender ago, i. e., at an age when the babe is held while being fed. Periodically or continuously, air may be admitted by applying the thumb The thumb or finger will be applied at that portion 41 of the lever means 35, and the levermeans tilted slightly outwardly, so that it will draw back with it that portion of the band 34, disposed over the hole 33, so that it fulcrums at 42, thereby admitting air through the hole 33 to the. portion of the bottle not occupied with milk, water, or formula which is being supplied to the infant. Assaid bottle is emptied, further air may be admitted, or the resilient closing means may be maintained withdrawn to leave the hole in an open position to permit atmospheric pressure to be established in the bottom portion of the bottle which becomes the uppermost part of the bottle when the said bottle is in an upturned position, which is the position during the feedingof the infant.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5, 6. and 'l, the bottle 43 is formed with a recess portion 44 in the bottom portion, and preferably on one corner. In this recess portion 44, a projection 45 is integrally formed with the bottle having an conduits 46 and 47 communicating with the interior of the bottle. A removable resilient vent closing member, having an elastic rubber band 48 and lever 49, is provided to embrace said projection 45 and close the opening of the conduits 46 and 4'7. This closing member is of similar construction and operation to that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, only being of a reduced size to engage the projection 45, rather than of a size to envelop the entire circumference of the bottom of the bottle.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a modified form of the vent closing means is shown for the bottle 43. In this case, the bottle 43 has the glass projection 50 integrally formed with the bottle 43. An elastic rubberband 51 is provided to engage the projection 45 and across the top of this band is disposed a hard rubber strip 52 to serve as a means in place of the lever or finger piece 49 to move the band 51 into open and closed positions, with respect to the conduits 46 and 47. To move the band 51 into open position with respect to the conduits 46, it is only necessary to push the strip 52 longitudinally. of the bottle, and cause the end 53.0f said strip to butt against the projection 50, and in this position, the strip 52 vis shown in dotted lines, and the rubber band 51 is shown in dotted lines, so that clearance is made between the projection 45 and that portion of the rubber band immediately contacting the opening of conduit 46. Since the rubber band is pushed away from the opening of conduit 46. the air can proceed in the direction of the arrows to opening of conduit 46, and when it is desired to close the same, the strip or bar 52 is disengaged from projection 50 and allowed to assume the full line position as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, strip 52 being of a length which will cause it to have the operation above described.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 11, the bottle 54 is provided with a recess 55 in the bottom portion, preferably on the corner (see Figs. 12 and 14), and glass lugs or projections 56 and 57 are integrally formed with the bottle, which bottle has an air vent 58. A removable vent closing means is provided having an elastic rubber band 59 and a bar 60 of hard rubber, integrally molded on said band 59. Bar 60 has an extension 61. When it is desired to periodically open the air vent 58, it is only necessary to depress bar 60 so that it fulcrums on glass projection 56. When it is desired to have the vent remain open, then bar 60 is depressed and pushed forward so that the extension 61 hangs upon projection 57. This provides for maintaining the rubber band is shown, wherein, instead oft-having a lug 56 of glass integrally formed with the bottle, the iulcrum point is provided of a hard rubber lug 62 integrally formed with the bar 63. r

In the modified iorm-shown in Figs. 17 and 1 8, the bottle 64 is provided with an air venting hole 65. A removable vent closing member, com prising a resilient band portion 66, having a shoulder 67 in the rim portion 68, is provided with an extension 69. The band portion 66 slips upon the bottle 64 and holds the closing member upon the bottle by friction, the bottle abutting against the shoulder 67. The extension 55 is preferably formed with a tapering mass of rubber extending to the peripheral portion of the rim 68, so that when it is desired to open the air venting hole to the atmosphere, it is onlynecessary to press outwardly on the rim at 7'0,which thereby causes the extension'69 to pivot at 71, and permits atmospheric pressure to be communicated-to the interior of the bottle through the vent "'65.

In the modified form'shownin Fig. 19, the wall of the bottle '72 is provided, in oneportion of the bottom, with a glass'p-rojection in which is provided an air vent '73, and a cylindrical recess 'l4. A removable vent closing member- (Fig. 20) is provided having a finger engaging part or lever 75, preferably'of relatively hard rubber; and integrally molded thereon 'a soft rubber cushion 7-6, and. a rubber pin '77. In applying this closing member to the bottle, pin '77 isforced into recess 74, which, being inclined to'the vent 7-3, operates to cause the closing member, with its cushion 76, to be urged toclosing po'sitionwith' respect to vent 73'. H

In the modified form shown in Figs. 21 and 22,

the bottle 78 is preferably provided with a curved recess 79 in the bottom portion. -A channel way 80 may be provided in the curvedportion of said recess '19 of the wall of the bottle 78] Bottle 78 has air venting hole 81. For this vent, a closing member is provided comprising a soft rubber cushion 82, mounted upon a'resilient stem 83, which may be of firm rubber'or resilient metal construction, which is bent downwardly so that it would assume the position shown in dotted lines, but is bent upwardly when the end portion of stem 83 is forced into channel w'ayBG. This induces a tension downwardly onlopening of hole 81. 'On the top of this stem 83, an opening handle 84 may be secured. The stem 83 is pressed into a channel way so until the cushion 82 registers with air vent 81-. When itfis desired to open air vent 81,, pressure is applied to handle 84 at point 85. This operates a lift cushion '82 by causing stem 83 to bow as shown in dotted lines, I

and establishes atmospheric pressure communication with the interior of the bottle. Hole 81 may be maintained open by the extent to which stem 83 is pushed into channel 80.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 23, the bottle 86 is provided with a projection in which air vent 87 is located adjacent a rest 88. A removable vent closing member of the form shown in Fig. 22 is provided to bear on said rest 88 when it is desired to keep the vent 87 open, and on top of vent 87 when closed.

In the modified form of closing member shown in Fig. 24, no handle 84 is provided-only a projection 89, so it can be periodically lifted from the vent 81 to establish communication between the interior of the bottle and atmospheric pressure. 1

In the modified form shown in Fig. 25, the type of closing member shown in Fig. 22, is provicled with a lateral finger button to pry down to establish communication between the interior of the bottle and atmospheric pressure. I

In the modified form shown in Fig. 26, the handle 84 of the closing member of the type shown in Fig. 22 is extended to fulcrum on th bottle wall at 91.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 27 and 28, bottle-92 is provided with a projection 93 in which open channel way 94 is provided to receive stem 83 of the closing. member shownin Fig. 22. Since channel way 94 is open, it may be thoroughly cleaned,- Fig. 28 being a sectional view on dotted line 28, 28 of Fig.2?

In the modified form shown in Figs. 29 and 30, a bottle 95;, having vent hole 96 in bottle projection 97 is provided with an elastic rubber band 98 as-a closing means, having rubber tab 99, and alsosaid band 98 is provided with; an oblong hole 100. operation, when it is desired to maintain atmospheric communicationwith the interior of the. bottle," it is only necessary topull hole over projection 9'7, and to close, it isonly necessary to lift band 98 by tab 99 and let band 98 again cover vent hole .96.

Obviously, all of the forms of the air vent closing means illustrated and described herein are of a character which may be readily and thoroughly and completely sterilized. They are preferably made of rubber, the same material which forms the nipple, and thereforano objection can be made thereto as to sterilization, so far as character o-finaterial is concerned. Furthermore, it will be noted that they are made of a form which permits of their being thoroughly and completelysterilized, having no tubular parts or joints which in anywise .come in contact with the milk ormilk formula or water being supplied to the infant. t

After preparing the feeding formula or boiled water, the desired number of the bottles may be filled with said formula and set away in the refrigerator for periodic use, and since the closing members are of a character which engage the bottles securely, there will be no, danger ofv the contents leaking out, or any interference with the sterilization of the bottle parts. Also, the bottles are of'a form without parts protruding objectionably beyond the lines of the body of the bottles, so they may be compactly'stored in the refrigerator. Also, the form and character of the closing members are such thatthe filled bottles may be withdrawn from the refrigerator and placedin boiling water to heat the contents to the desired temperature for feeding, without any interference with the closing members performing efiiciently their functions.

Obviously, changes may be made in the. forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of our invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment. 1

' We claim:

1. A nursing bottle of the character described, characterized by having a small air venting hole in the lower end portion thereof,'and glass projections formed on each side of said hole; a removableelastic closing member to close said hole, comprising an elastic rubber band to embrace said bottle; and means integrally formed with said band to move said portion of said band away from said hole to subject the interior of said bottle to atmospheric pressure, whereby said means may be actuated to expose the hole and cause the said extension of said integrally formed means to hang upon one of the said glass projections formed on the bottle.

2. A nursing bottle of the character described,

characterized by'having a small air venting hole in the lower end portion thereof, said hole having an annular raised portion adjacent thereto; a removable elastic closing member for said hole havinga portionof saidmember' itself extending over said hole as a closure therefor, and having a portion which grips the body ofsaid bottle, whereby said closing member is held under pressure superimposed over said hole and lever opening means integrally formed with said closing ini-imber operatively positioned-to move that portion of said closing member positioned over said venting hole away from said hole to subject the interior of said bottle to atmospheric pressure. 3. A nursing bottle of the character described, characterized by having a small air venting hole in the. lower end portion thereof; a removable elastic closing member .to close said holeycom prising an elastic rubber band embracing said bottle and positioned over said venting hole; and lever opening means integrally formed with said closing member operatively positioned to move that portion of said closing member positioned over said venting hole away from said hole to subject the interior of said bottle to atmospheric pressure. p

4. A nursing bottle of the character described, characterized by having a small air venting hole in the lower end portion thereof; a removable elastic closing member resiliently held in position over said venting hole; and lever opening means integrally formed with said. closing member operatively. positioned to move that portion of said closing member positioned over said venting hole away from said hole to subject the interior of said bottle to atmospheric pressure.

NORMAN CHARLES LOWE; ANDREW KENYON MACLEAN.

lilo 

